KELLY KULICK LANDS ROLE IN BRIDGESTONE AMERICA’S AD CAMPAIGN
PBA Tournament of Champions titlist Kelly Kulick has landed a prime-time role in a new Bridgestone America’s advertising campaign, in which the company is poised to utilize its tire technology revolutionize the world of sports as we know it. The Union, N.J., resident will represent bowling alongside athletes from a variety of other “ball” sports – plus hockey – in the campaign.

And rumor has it the Bridgestone spot may be included in the Super Bowl advertising lineup.

“It’s an ad campaign for Bridgestone tires that relates the performance of their products to different sports, and they use athletes to get their message across,” Kulick said. “I’m very excited to be asked to represent the PBA and bowling in the campaign.”

Bridgestone has prepared a series of teaser ads, including a 60-second “Press Conference” introduction that debuted during Monday’s Bridgestone National Hockey League Winter Classic telecast from Philadelphia. (A link to the introductory commercial is available on pba.com under the “In The News” tab).

While the debut “Press Conference” commercial only includes a unique bowling ball that appears to be made of Bridgestone tire material, and a “cameo” head shot of Kulick, “There’s more to come,” she said.

RASH HOSTS 17TH “STARS OF FUTURE” YOUTH EVENT
Sean Rash was 13 years old when he decided to host his first scratch bowling tournament for Alaska’s most accomplished youth bowlers. On Dec. 27, he returned to Jewel Lake Bowl in Anchorage to assist with the 17th edition of the Sean Rash Stars of the Future tournament.

Rash, who now lives in Montgomery, Ill., is one of a growing number of PBA Tour stars who are giving back to the sport by hosting youth scholarship tournaments to encourage young bowlers to continue their growth within the sport.

While Rash won his own event six times, 10 other teens have captured the title over the years, including Jacques Kaune who topped a field of 26 Alaskan youth bowlers to win this year’s event. For his efforts, Kaune earned $950 in scholarship money plus a paid entry into the USBC’s 2012 North Pointe Junior Gold National Championships courtesy of Rash’s parents, Gene and Diana Rash.

For the 2011 event, $2,600 in scholarship money raised the event’s overall total to more than $24,000 in scholarship awards. It also has become a tradition to provide each tournament entrant with a gift, frequently donated by Rash’s fellow PBA and/or former Team USA competitors.

LIMITED REGIONAL SCHEDULE RESUMES IN JANUARY FOR SENIORS
A limited schedule for PBA Regional activity resumes for Midwest and Central senior players in January and early February, including the T-Byrd Lanes Senior Open in Rochelle, Ill., Jan. 6-8; the Lynwood Bowl Senior Open in Lynwood, Ill., Jan. 20-22, and the Sparetime Lanes Senior Open, Feb. 3-5, in Decatur, Ill. All three events are sponsored by Allstate Insurance.

February’s highlight for non-senior players will be the new Regional Players Doubles Championship presented by Hammer Feb. 10-12 at The Orleans in Las Vegas. For complete Regional tournament schedules and entry information, visit pba.com and click on “Regional Tour” under the “Schedules” drop-down tab.

XTRA FRAME FREE PRE-GAME SHOW NOW FEATURES MIKE AULBY DIVISION FINALS
Xtra Frame, PBA’s official online bowling channel, continues its free pre- and post-game shows this week with the PBA World Championship Mike Aulby Division finals, beginning with a pre-game introduction that is currently available on pba.com.

Pre-game shows for all PBA Tour events will be online on Wednesday afternoon preceding each Sunday telecast. A post-game show, featuring an interview with the tournament champion(s) and a discussion of equipment used during the finals, will be posted immediately after the telecast.

Xtra Frame subscribers also can access the archives within Xtra Frame for a recap of the individual tournaments leading up to the Sunday telecasts. For information on how to subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit pba.com and click on the Xtra Frame logo.

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